Bad News For Grandpa!

Grandpa just called and let me know that he has Stage 3 kidney disease. Last week he and Grandma had their annual physicals and ironically all Grandma's 'levels' came back in the stable range for her cancer, but Grandpa had some suspicious things going on with his blood and urine.

They ran further tests and discovered this kidney disease. What we know right now is that it is not reversible or curable. A year ago he had no sign of any of it and it is already a stage 3. Their next step is to determine how progressive it is. He is too old for a transplant. If it is aggressive he will need dialysis. They've told him it isn't hereditary, but who knows. He also learned that kidney disease is related to hypertension and he has had high blood pressure for many years.

He did tell me that when he was having his prostate troubles, he was determined to cure it holistically and procrastinated having the necessary surgery for years (pride and male stubborness by his own admission). This played a part in an unempty bladder backing up into the kidneys causing scarring. Also, come to find out, any form of ibuprofen, excedrin, advil, aleeve, etc. also scars the kidneys. He used to take some of that with a diet coke for a 'pick me up' in the afternoons as he got older to give him some added energy. I've heard it called 'devil juice' before. This kind of gives another perspective of that.

Anyway-- this is what we know for now. He will have some follow up testing done the middle of May now that they have a baseline so they can monitor the progression. He wanted all of us to know so we can take good care of ourselves. It takes a lot of courage to share about personal quirks, but he did because he loves us all so much and wants us to learn from his experience. THANK YOU GRANDPA! These are not the whole cause for this kidney disease, but obviously contributed in combination.

Keep Grandpa in your prayers and I'll keep you posted with updates!

Love, Mom